One week after her terrifying ordeal, the 21-year-old woman released a statement saying she is happy to be alive, grateful for all of the Santa Cruz community members who helped her, and determined to return to class next week.

"I am extremely moved by the kind words and genuine concern that have been extended to me by friends, family and strangers. I am very pleased to say that I am healing more and more everyday and am recovering at home," the student said.

"Though it will be some time until I fully understand and accept what has occurred to me, I can say with absolute certainty that I have never been more happy to be alive," she said.

The gunman was still at large as of Monday morning.

The student, whose name has not been released, was waiting at a bus stop on Feb. 11 when a man pointed a rifle at her and demanded she hand over everything she had, Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark said. After the student gave the man her laptop, backpack and wallet, the robber hit the student in the head with a rifle and she was shot.

The woman ran down the street to find help, Clark said. A good Samaritan pulled over and let the victim into her truck. Once inside the truck, the student said she looked back to see her attacker fleeing the scene with her backpack.

"I would like to thank the woman who stopped her truck to help a stranger without a moment's hesitation. Though I was unable to get her name I am forever grateful for the kindness she showed," the student said.

The student also thanked the Santa Cruz Police Department for working diligently on the case, as well as Dominican Hospital's emergency room surgeons who found and removed a bullet from her skull.

Police later found the student's backpack tossed inside a dumpster at a school near where the robbery happened. Investigators are hoping to lift fingerprints from the backpack to help identify the assailant.

The UCSC senior is currently recovering at her family's house in Oakland.

"I plan to return to Santa Cruz next week for another check up with my doctor ... and begin the process of returning to my regular classes and normal life," she said.